Air Conditioner Installations

Homeowners often tell technicians that it feels like their A/C units were installed not too long ago. However, when cooling system repair appointments become increasingly frequent or the unit doesn’t keep the home as cool as it once did, it’s probably time to consider a replacement. Our technicians can work with you to review the selection of common types of cooling systems, select the best unit for your home, and perform a professional air conditioning installation for years of indoor comfort.

Common Reasons To Replace An A/C

A residential air conditioner is an investment. The return it provides is years of cool comfort indoors. But unlike traditional financial investments, an air conditioner eventually wears out and needs to be replaced. Bloomington Heating & Air has installed countless new AC units for homeowners throughout the years. Here are three of the most common reasons we’ve replaced residential air conditioners.

Current A/C Is More Than 15 Years Old

Most residential air conditioners have an average lifespan of 10 years to 15 years. As they creep up in age, internal parts and components wear out creating the need for frequent AC repair sessions.

Utility Bill Is Increasing

Unless the local utility company has raised electricity rates, your utility bill shouldn’t increase if use of the A/C does not increase. While there may be other factors influencing cost, it’s also one of the most common signs that it’s time to replace the A/C. Older units, even with regular maintenance and timely repairs, lose efficiency over time and raise the utility bill when used.

Repair Cost Is Too High

There comes a day when you’re pouring more money into repairs than what the unit is giving back in energy and utility savings. Bloomington Heating & Air follows this guideline for helping homeowners decide whether they should repair or replace their cooling system:

(Cost of Repair) x (Age in Years of Current A/C Unit) > (Cost Of New A/C)

This means that if the cost of repair multiplied by the unit’s age is more than the cost of buying and installing a new air conditioner, it’s time to replace the unit.

You Need A New A/C If …

A/C Has Trouble Keeping Up

Maybe you added an extra room to the home or want the indoor temperature to be a little bit cooler. Changes to lifestyle or the home itself impact how well an air conditioner keeps up with demands. If your current unit runs nearly nonstop and the indoor temperature still isn’t where you want it, consider replacing the unit.

You Need Frequent A/C Repairs

If your home has occasionally needed HVAC repair, that’s understandable. But if occasional becomes frequent, such as three or four times each year, it’s time for a new air conditioner. Air conditioning installation costs may add up to about the same as or less than what frequent repairs cost.

Sizing An A/C For Your Home

There are several online calculators that give homeowners a ballpark idea of what size air conditioner is best for their home. These can be a great starting point as you begin to look for a new air conditioner. You can also ask professionals with Bloomington Heating & Air for guidance.

Tonnage & BTUs

When our technicians use the word tonnage, they’re referring to the unit’s ability to cool in terms of the British Thermal Unit (BTU). This unit indicates how much energy is needed to heat or cool one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Most residential air conditioners start at 1 ton, meaning they’re able to cool 12,000 BTUs in an hour.

Factors To Properly Size An A/C Unit

Like buying properly fitted clothes and shoes, you want to install an air conditioner that is the right size for the home. A unit that’s too big will cost more to operate and be just as inefficient as a unit too small. Bloomington Heating & Air helps homeowners properly size an A/C unit according to many factors, including:

Amount of shade from trees and shrubs around the home;

Amount and condition of insulation;

Condition of current ductwork;

How many windows and doors are in the home, including the age, condition and orientation; and

The total volume of the home’s living space.

Each home is different down to the expectations of how warm or cool occupants want the space to be. Our technicians consider your lifestyle when helping you find the perfect A/C unit.